The entire place is absolutely gorgeous. It's full of lush greenery, towering slabs of limestone, stalactites, and waterfalls. So much nature, everywhere.
A few things I liked about this swimming hole:
-It's obviously very pretty, and since you can hike in the area it's more than just a swimming hole.
-It is regulated by the Parks & WIldlife Dept, and they only allow 75 cars in at a time, so it's not overly crowded.
-It has a history. Pre-19th century it was inhabited by Tonkawa and Apache Indians, then around the 1880's it was bought by a family of German farmers. Rumor has it that their 8 year old son discovered the swimming hole one day while exploring the property. In 1985 it was bought by the government in an attempt to preserve it. It has cultural remains that date back 8,000 years! I found myself lost in thought, while swimming around and exploring, about the little boy who discovered it.
-Compostable toilets!!
A few things I didn't like about it:
-The hike to the swimming hole was kind of steep, and it was misting off and on the day we went, so it was a little muddy. I was a typical mom, yelling at Emma the entire way to be careful as she hopped on rocks and jumped in puddles. :]
-The water wasn't clear, and I have a phobia of swimming in water that I can't see through.
-The bottom was really rocky. (If you're in the area and plan on going, I would recommend water shoes.)
So, this swimming hole is #2 that we've visited. I have a list of 101, and with any luck I'll get to visit them all. :] Have you ever been to a swimming hole? Better yet, would you ever swim in a swimming hole? I used to be the kind of person who would only swim in pools, but The Blue Hole won me over.